While the weather might not be all that great at the moment, the Glaswegians did catch a proper glimpse of summer and are hungry for more. Of course, summer is best right here in the West End. Here’s why:

We’ve got the best beer gardensThere are some cracking beer gardens tucked away in the lanes, including Brel, Jinty McGuinty’s and The Bothy, just to mention a few. But West End restaurants know their customers, and many Byres Road venues have created little oases on the pavement, where guests can enjoy a drink or a meal in the sun. Have a stroll down to The Hill on the corner of University Place, or check out The Aragon’s new outdoor furniture for an opportunity to dine and wine al fresco.

There’s a bard in the BotanicsThe West End has a beautiful botanic garden, filled with exotic flowers and smooth lawns that are ideal for soaking up the sun. As if that wasn't enough, every year, for a whole month, a theatre company takes over to perform Shakespeare in the fresh air. What’s not to love about that?

Frozen Fanta anyone?Byres Road has some of the best ice cream shops in town – Nardini’s, The University Café and Crolla’s have all made a name for themselves – but Crolla’s have recently upped their game by providing Frozen Fanta as a Byres Road exclusive. Their Facebook audience was all for it.

Our students are a talented bunchThis photo of university students in Kelvingrove Park was liked by over 4,000 people on Twitter. As if walking a rope isn’t enough to raise an eye brow, there’s also a mini orchestra jamming in the background. Not an uncommon sight in these parts of the city.

Photo by JoeDevine96/Twitter

Celebrities can be spottedThe West End was buzzing at the end of May, as cast members from Trainspotting 2 were seen in the area. It’s not like we’re entirely unaccustomed to seeing stars though; a few years ago, actor Billy Boyd was married in Oran Mor, with some of his Lord of the Rings co-stars in attendance…

Jonny Lee Miller outside the University of Glasgow. Photo by Daily Mail, WENN.com

Festival timesThe West End Festival has been running for more than twenty years and is a three-week long whirlwind of performances, exhibitions, talks, walks and much more. The programme is the length of a short novel, and you’d struggle not to find at least one event to suit your interests. While this year’s festival has come to an end, the West Enders can continue to enjoy outdoor performances at the Kelvingrove Bandstand throughout the rest of the summer.